Page 64 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“Nae. She brought the mead I’d requested for us and then pushed herself on me. I refused immediately.”

Her smile grew broader. Holding the necklace tightly, she embraced him so suddenly that Noah stumbled back. He embraced her back,, holding her close.

“Thank ye,” she whispered. “’Tis a beautiful thing.”

“I am pleased ye like it,” he said gently and kissed her temple. He held her in the hope that his embrace showed her more than anything how much he cared for her.

I need a word for this feeling.

* * *

Scarlett fiddled with the necklace around her throat for the fifth time that evening. She was so taken with it that every time she touched it, she looked up at Noah, who sat at the head of the table. She caught him smiling back at her in the candlelight.

Noah and Ian had joined her for dinner tonight. It was the first time she hadn't felt lonely at supper. Even when Ian spoke, Noah's foot brushed against hers under the table, demonstrating that he was thinking of her despite the subject matter.

Please, God, I dinnae wish tae leave him.

The thought struck her as she lifted her mead cup and sipped before setting it down beside his own. She clutched the necklace tightly, unsure if it would still be hers when she left. He'd given it to Scarlett, not Eloise, after all.

Scarlett's heart was so full of joy and dread for what was to come that she barely paid attention to the conversation around her.

“We shall have tae plan more searches,” Noah said to his brother.

“Aye, I’ sent out more scouts this evening,” Ian explained. “Hopefully we’ll soon hear something of the cloaked men.”

“I pray so,” Noah sighed.

“They’ll make themselves kent at some point, I expect,” Scarlett said as she reached forward and took a goblet. She didn’t really look at which one she took, for she was too busy wishing to calm Noah’s worries. “If they wished tae do either of us harm, they would have tae come out of hiding, would they nae?”

“Aye, I suppose so.”

Scarlett took a gulp of mead. It shot down her throat before she realized the taste was wrong. Coughing, it was too late to spit it out. Placing the cup on the table, she tried to clear her throat.

“Yer all right?” Noah asked.

“Aye, fine. It’s just… the mead didnae taste right.” She peered into the goblet. It was the same honey color it usually was, but the scent was wrong. There was a nutty scent around the rim. “Something’s wrong.” A burning feeling began in her throat.

“Scarlett? What is it?” Noah leaned over.

“Scarlett?” Ian repeated, surprised.

“’Tis a nickname,” Noah explained with a wave of his hand, and Scarlett wasn’t paying attention. She clutched her throat as the burning got worse. She tried to cough, but she couldn’t clear it. Hurrying to her feet, the chair fell backward. “Scarlett! What is it?”

“Burns,” she murmured, turning to him. He was immediately on his feet, reaching out. “It hurts.” Crippled by stomach pain, she bent double, falling forward. “Noah!”

“Ian! Send orders to Callie at once,” Noah barked.

Scarlett was swept up into the air. The last thing she saw was Noah’s face. He called to her repeatedly, but everything around her seemed dizzy.

“Scarlett, ye have tae stay awake. Ye must. Ye will be fine, I promise ye.”

“Did she nae say it burned?” Ian said from nearby. “That is nae natural illness.”

Scarlett’s eyes began to close.

“Scarlett!” Noah called to her to keep her awake. She saw his eyes and the strong line of his jaw, then all faded to darkness.

* * *